Discover 9 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Uruguay. Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Legislative Palace of Uruguay (Montevideo), Palacio Salvo (Montevideo) or Ciudad Vieja (Montevideo).
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Uruguay.
Table of Contents
Legislative Palace of Uruguay, Montevideo
Also known as: Palacio Legislativo del Uruguay
Building in Montevideo, Uruguay. The Legislative Palace of Uruguay is a monumental building, meeting place of the General Assembly of Uruguay, and the seat of the legislative branch of the Uruguayan government. It is located in the barrio of Aguada in the city of Montevideo.
Constructed between 1908 and 1925, the building was inaugurated on August 25, 1925, in commemoration of the centenary of the Declaration of Independence. It was declared a National Historic Monument in 1975 by the government of President Juan María Bordaberry.[1]
Address: Av. de las Leyes, 11800 Montevideo (Centro Comunal Zonal 1)
Palacio Salvo, Montevideo
Architecturally significant building. Palacio Salvo is a building in Montevideo, Uruguay, located at the intersection of 18 de Julio Avenue and Plaza Independencia. It was designed by the architect Mario Palanti, an Italian immigrant living in Buenos Aires, who used a similar design for his Palacio Barolo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Finished in 1928, Palacio Salvo stands 100 m high with the antenna included. It was the tallest building in Latin America for a brief period.[2]
Address: Plaza Independencia 848, 11000 Montevideo (Centro Comunal Zonal 1)
Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo
Neighbourhood in Montevideo, Uruguay. Ciudad Vieja is a historic neighbourhood in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. Located in a peninsula at the entrance of the natural port of Montevideo it was founded in 1724 as a walled city by the Spanish Empire, after the independence of Uruguay the city rapidly grew outwards and the Ciudad Vieja remained as one of the central neighbourhoods, nowadays it serves as one of the main office districts of Montevideo, housing multiple banks and institutions, but also as one of main tourist attractions in Uruguay due to its historical significance and classical architecture.[3]
The Hand, Punta del Este
Also known as: Mano de Punta del Este
Sculpture by Mario Irarrázabal. La Mano is a sculpture in Punta del Este by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal. It depicts five human fingers partially emerging from sand and is located on Parada 1 at Brava Beach in Punta del Este, a popular tourist town in Uruguay. It is also known as either Los Dedos, or Hombre emergiendo a la vida. In English, its popular name is The Hand.
It is a famous sculpture that has become a symbol for Punta del Este since its completion in February 1982 and in turn has become one of Uruguay's most recognizable landmarks.[4]
Museo del Mar, Punta del Este
Museum in El Tesoro, Maldonado, Uruguay. The Museum of the Sea, opened in 1996, is a museum of natural history located in La Barra, in the department of Maldonado, Uruguay. It occupies about 2,300 m2 and is divided into four large halls, which are open to the public all year round.[5]
Address: Romildo Risso, 20001 La Barra
La Barra, Punta del Este
La Barra is a resort in the Maldonado Department of southeastern Uruguay.[6]
Plaza de Toros, Colonia
Also known as: Plaza de toros Real de San Carlos
Tourist attraction in Uruguay. Plaza de toros Real de San Carlos is a former bullring in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. Built in 1909 it was shortly closed after prohibition of bull fighting in 1912. After a century of abandonment, in 2021 it was finally restored and transformed into a cultural center for musical or sportive events.[7]
Address: Rio de la Plata y Av. Nicolas Mihanovich, 70000 Colonia del Sacramento
Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento, Colonia
Church in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. The Basilica of the Holy Sacrament is a Roman Catholic parish church in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay.[8]
The lighthouse, Colonia
Lighthouse in Colonia del Sacramento - a navigation sign in the form of a tower in the south -western part of Uruguay, on the northern coast of La Plata. It is located in the historical district of Colonia del Sacramento, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The lighthouse was built on the ruins of the monastery (Convento de San Francisco Javier) erected by the Portuguese in 1682. The construction of the lighthouse began in 1845, but was interrupted by the prolonged civil war, which eventually ended in 1852. It was put into use in January 1857.
The white tower with a height of 12 meters in the lower part is built on a square plan, and the upper part is cylindrical. Latern is painted in white and red. Oil and acetylene lamps were used to power the lantern in the past. Electricity from solar cells has been used since 1997. Initially, the lantern gave white flashes. Currently light located 34 m a.s.l. Gives two red flashes every 9 seconds. Its range is 7.8 nautical miles. It is served by lighthouse keys.
The lantern is available to visitors for a fee.